LABOUR faces a challenging year after its grip on power at the town hall was significantly weakened following last week’s local election.

The result has left the controlling group with an effective majority of just one after opposition parties dealt it a bloody nose at the ballot box.

The party made a net loss of four seats on election night, leaving it with 31 seats to the Conservatives' 19, while Farnworth and Kearsley First, the Lib Dems and UKIP each control three seats. The 60-seat council is completed by Smithills Cllr Carole Swarbrick, classed as ‘other’.

But with Elaine Sherrington set to take over as Mayor from the Liberal Democrats' Roger Hayes, Labour’s dominance in the council chamber now hangs by a single vote.

Political opponents, including the Lib Dem Cllr David Wilkinson, say Labour must now be “prepared to listen” to the the boroughs' townships and move away from an alleged “Bolton-centric” attitude.

Bolton Council Leader Linda Thomas, has called on the “whole borough to now pull together at a time of devastating cuts”.

She said: “It is a hard balancing act when more is needed at a time money is decreasing. No community must be left behind. This is a challenge we hope to rise to, but we can only succeed with the collaboration of the people of every town and community in the borough.

“Economic prosperity for all is essential and we will explore new, inclusive ways as a council to deliver this. The outcomes needed are keeping jobs and money local.”

But should a by-election be triggered in any ward with a sitting Labour councillor, the party’s majority could well be wiped out all together.

In the borough’s two most recent by-elections previously Labour-held wards of Hulton and Farnworth fell to the Conservatives and Farnworth and Kearsley First respectively.

And while some decisions are taken by portfolio holders on the executive, Labour will need full attendance at council meetings to vote through major policies such as the budget.

The council’s various committees, including scrutiny, planning and audit, must reflect its political balance. This week’s planning committee meeting was cancelled because the panel no longer does.

Scrutiny committees have little power to overturn or reject or overturn executive decisions. But greater numbers on the panels could provide opposition parties with a chance to exert greater influence on policies as they are developed.

Members of committees will be appointed by council leader Linda Thomas, next Tuesday.

And these will then be approved – effectively rubber stamped – at the first meeting of the full council following the election on May 23.